RoadVitals

2009 Mitsubishi Galant Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Jan 16, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags1045.5%
  • Body & structure418.2%
  • Other / unspecified313.6%
  • Tires & wheels29.1%
  • Brakes14.5%
  • Powertrain (other)14.5%
  • Seat belts14.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the front driver's side air bag deployed inadvertently and struck the contact’s face and chest. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately slammed on the brake pedal and then pulled into a parking spot. The contact stated there was no collision before the air bag deployment. The contact stated that she sustained pain in the face and on the chest but did not seek medical assistance. The dealer was contacted and advised the contact to cut the air bag off the steering wheel and to take the vehicle to their location. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive because the seat belt was inoperable after the air bag had been deployed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID 11565746 · filed Jan 16, 2024

Shannon bell private dealer is selling this car with a unrepairable cv axel. I purchased it and di my home work he rolled the miles back. He's falsely advertising it as clean tie and 190 something miles. That's even less then when I had it. Air bag lights are on and he unplugged the wires along with seatbelt so the lights don't show.

NHTSA ID 11520188 · filed May 3, 2023
All 10 reports naming airbags

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DON HARRING MITSUBISHI DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,923.

NHTSA ID 10991790 · filed May 26, 2017

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 3:00 PM ON A WEEKDAY AND MY SUNROOF JUST SHATTERED INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES, IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WHEN IT BROKE. I SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE, NOTHING HAPPENED BUT THIS INCIDENT COULD OF BEEN A LOT WORSE. AT THE TIME NO ONE ELSE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY SO IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A ROCK OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN AND REGARDLESS OF THE TRIPLE DIGIT SUMMER TEXAS WEATHER THE GLASS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE HEAT TEMPERED. I HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE CHUNKS OF GLASS STARTED TO FLY OFF AND WAS HITTING THE BACK OF MY TRUNK, SCRATCHING THE PAINT JOB.

NHTSA ID 10749877 · filed Aug 19, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Shannon bell private dealer is selling this car with a unrepairable cv axel. I purchased it and di my home work he rolled the miles back. He's falsely advertising it as clean tie and 190 something miles. That's even less then when I had it. Air bag lights are on and he unplugged the wires along with seatbelt so the lights don't show.

NHTSA ID 11520188 · filed May 3, 2023

I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW BACK IN DEC OF 2008. NOT EVEN THREE YEARS LATER, THREE (3) OF THE FOUR (4) TIRES HAVE SEVERE CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. THE ONLY REASON THE FOURTH TIRE WASN'T DAMAGED THE SAME WAY IS I HAD A NAIL STUCK IN THE SIDEWALL PRIOR THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE AND HAD TO REPLACE IT, SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME IT WOULD HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I HAD A SLOW LEAK AND NOTICED THE CRACKING ON ONE OF THE TIRES WHEN FILLING WITH AIR. THE MECHANIC WAS THE ONE WHO POINTED OUT THE OTHER TIRE STARTING TO CRACK THE SAME WAY. TONIGHT I NOTICED THE THIRD TIRE (LAST ORIGINAL TIRE) ALSO HAD THE SAME CRACKING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10449510 · filed Feb 27, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW BACK IN DEC OF 2008. NOT EVEN THREE YEARS LATER, THREE (3) OF THE FOUR (4) TIRES HAVE SEVERE CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. THE ONLY REASON THE FOURTH TIRE WASN'T DAMAGED THE SAME WAY IS I HAD A NAIL STUCK IN THE SIDEWALL PRIOR THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE AND HAD TO REPLACE IT, SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME IT WOULD HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I HAD A SLOW LEAK AND NOTICED THE CRACKING ON ONE OF THE TIRES WHEN FILLING WITH AIR. THE MECHANIC WAS THE ONE WHO POINTED OUT THE OTHER TIRE STARTING TO CRACK THE SAME WAY. TONIGHT I NOTICED THE THIRD TIRE (LAST ORIGINAL TIRE) ALSO HAD THE SAME CRACKING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10449510 · filed Feb 27, 2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRES ARE YOKOHAMA, MODEL NAME RADIAL ALL SEASON TUBELESS, AND THE TIRE SIZE IS P/215/60/R16. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE TIRES CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE ABNORMALLY. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $600.00. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT STATE WHY THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID 10252715 · filed Dec 24, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN GOING IN REVERSE THE CAR MAKES A HORRIBLE LOUD NOISE. THE CAR IS STILL IN FACTORY CONDITION AND NOT USING ANY AFTERMARKET PARTS. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE TORE DOWN THE REAR END OF ANOTHER CAR AND LUBED AND OILED AND SAT FOR OVERNIGHT AND DID THE SAME NOISE. SEEMS TO BE A VERY BIG DEFECT IN SOMETHING USED. CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A BRAND NEW CAR WITH VERY LOW MILES WILL MAKE SUCH A NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10438206 · filed Dec 3, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN GOING IN REVERSE THE CAR MAKES A HORRIBLE LOUD NOISE. THE CAR IS STILL IN FACTORY CONDITION AND NOT USING ANY AFTERMARKET PARTS. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE TORE DOWN THE REAR END OF ANOTHER CAR AND LUBED AND OILED AND SAT FOR OVERNIGHT AND DID THE SAME NOISE. SEEMS TO BE A VERY BIG DEFECT IN SOMETHING USED. CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A BRAND NEW CAR WITH VERY LOW MILES WILL MAKE SUCH A NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10438206 · filed Dec 3, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Shannon bell private dealer is selling this car with a unrepairable cv axel. I purchased it and di my home work he rolled the miles back. He's falsely advertising it as clean tie and 190 something miles. That's even less then when I had it. Air bag lights are on and he unplugged the wires along with seatbelt so the lights don't show.

NHTSA ID 11520188 · filed May 3, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .